Stone-picker



W. LEDUC.

STONE PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1919.

1 3 3 023 Patented Apr. 27,1920.

Ma a/70R W/zz 09/14 45006.

- necting the ends of the chains 11 and 12 to- WILLIAM LEDUC, or rononro, ONTARIO, CANADA.

STONE-PICKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed August 22,1919. Serial No. 319,224.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM LEDUO, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stone-Pickers, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to the improvements in stone pickers and the subject of the invention is to devise simple means for picking up stones of any shape or size from a position either embedded in the ground or submerged beneath the surface of water and it consists essentially of the following arrangement and construction of the parts as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device showing the application.

Fig. 2, is a view of my device looking from the reverse side to that shown in Fig. 1, and showing the parts in the position they assume ready for release.

In the drawings like characters of refer ence indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

1 and 2 indicate two metal stakes having ratchet-shaped opposing inner edges 1 and 2 for gripping the surface of the stone. 3 indicates a bar secured at one end to the upper end of the stake 1 and extending horizontally therefrom. 3 indicates a bar secured to the upper end of the stake 2 and extending in the opposite direction and par allel with the bar 3. 3 indicates a spacing member secured to the bar 3. 3 indicates a spacing member secured to the bar 3* centrally of its length.

4 indicates a bolt extending through the bars 3 and 3* and spacing members 3 and 3' and on which the bars 3 and 3 are turnably held.

5 and 6 indicate bracket members each provided with an upturned inner end 5 bearing against its respective bar 3 or 3*, being secured thereto by a bolt 4.

The brackets 5 and 6 carry strap members 5 and 6 in which are vertically and slidably held bars 7 and 8, to the lower ends of which are secured arc-shaped members 9 and 10 adapted to bear against the upper face of a stone.

11 indicates a chain connected to the opposite end of the bar 3 to stake 1. 12 indicates a chain connected to the opposite end of the bar 3 to stake 2. 12 indicates a ring congether. 14 indicates a chain connected to the ring 12*, the opposite end being carried by a derrick arm.

15 indicates a swinging arm also carried by the bolt 4, the arm 15 being of goose neck formation and provided with a ring 15 through which the chain 14 extends. 17 indicates an arc-shaped bar secured to the bar 3", and extending through the guiding bracket 1'7 carried by the arm 15, such bar 17 forming a means for stiffening the arm 15 as it is swung on the bolt 4. 15 indicates a pin extending from the angle of the arm 15. 18 indicates a swinging gravity pawl carried by the upper end of the stake 2, its movement being limited by the pins 15 and 15 When the device is placed in position to raise the stone the stakes are driven into the ground at each side of the stone with the ratchet edge in contact therewith. The arm 15 is in the raised position shown in Fig. 1 and the bars 7 and 8 are adjusted vertically by means of the cotter pin "i which is adapted to extend through any one of the series of holes formed in the bars 7 and 8. The bars 7 and 8 are adjusted until the arc-shaped portions 9 and 10 bear against the outer face of the stone. The cotter pins are then inserted to hold such bars in position. The chain 14 is then pulled upon by the derrick to lift the load, the draw upon such chain pulling upon the chains 11 and 12 connected to the ends of the bars 3 and 3 which act as levers swinging upon the bolt 4 which serves as a fulcrum therefor and forcing the stakes inwardly into contact with the stone as the whole device is lifted thereby firmly gripping the stone which is steadied when in this position by the arc-shaped members 9 and 10 bearing upon the upper face of the stone at each side of the stakes 1 and 2.

When the stone is carried to the position for deposit it is lowered on to the ground so as to slacken ofl the chain 14. The arm 15 is then swung down into the position shown in Fig. 2, the pin 15 opposing the gravity pawl 18, which pawl swings upwardly over the pin.

As has been before stated the chain 14 passes through the ring 15 connected to the arm 15 and, therefore, when the device is arranged as shown in Fig. 2, the upward pull upon such chain pulls upon the arm 15 so that the pin 15 engages the pawl 18,

the opposite end of the pawl bearing against the pin 15 By this operation the stake 2 is drawn outwardly away from the stone so as to release it.

From this description it will be seen that I have devised a very simple device for picking up stones which may be readily inserted in the engaged position, which will fit any size or shape of stone and which may be readily used no matter what the location of the stone is and may be readily placed in position even by a diver when the-stone is submerged in the water.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a stone picking device the combination with the lifting chain, of a pair of stake members adapted to be inserted in the ground at each side of the stone and having gripping edges for gripping the stone, par? allel lever bars pivotally connected together intermediately of their length and connected at the opposite ends of the aforesaid stakes, and chains connecting the lifting chain to the opposite ends of the lever bars.

2. In a stone picking device, the combination with the lifting chain, of a pair of stake members adapted to be inserted in the ground at each side of the stone, and having gripping edges for gripping the stone, parallel lever bars pivotally connected together intermediately of their length and connected at opposite ends of the. aforesaid stakes, chains connecting the lifting chain to the opposite ends of the lever bars, and adjustable means carried by the lever bars bearing against the upper face of the stone at each side of the lever bars.

3. In a stone picking device, the combination with the lifting chain, of a pair of stake members adapted to be inserted in the ground at each side of the stone and having gripping edges for gripping the stone, parallel lever bars pivotally connected together intermediately of their length and connected at opposite ends to the aforesaid stakes, chains connecting the lifting chain to the opposite ends of the lever bars, bracket members extending from each side of the lever bars and secured thereto, and

vertically movable bars adjustably held inv and means operated by the upward draw of the lifting chain for drawing the stake members apart to release the stone.

5. In a stone picking device, the combination with the lifting chain of a pair of stake members adapted to be inserted in the ground at each side of the stone and having gripping edges for gripping the stone, parallel lever bars pivotally connected together intermediately of their length and connected at opposite ends to the aforesaid stakes, chains connecting the lifting chain to the opposite ends of the lever bars, a swinging arm carried by the lifting bars, and having an eye through which the lifting chain passes, a pin extending from the outer end of the arm, a pawl carried by one of the stake members beneath which the pin is adapted to swing, and means for limiting the swing of the pawl when the aforesaid pin is brought into engagement therewith.

6. In a stone picking device, the combination with a lifting chain, of a pair of stone gripping members, a bar secured to each gripping member at one end and pivotally connected together intermediately of their length and chains connecting the opposite end of each bar to the lifting chain. I

WILLIAM LEDUO. 

